Fiscal Note
No fiscal impact.
Title
Commending and thanking Alder Nikki Conklin for her dedicated service to the constituents in District 9 and to the City of Madison.
Body
WHEREAS, Alder Nikki Conklin was elected to the Madison Common Council on April 20, 2021; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Conklin served on the Sister City Collaboration Committee, Board of Public Works, Sustainable Madison Committee, Common Council Executive Committee, Community Development Division Conference Committee, President’s Work Group on Racial Justice, Antiracism and Equity, Community Development Block Grant Committee, Landlord and Tenant Issues Committee, and Disability Rights Commission; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Conklin supported the creation of and successfully sponsored additional investments in the Community Alternative Response Emergency Services (CARES) initiative. Alder Conklin also supported the Men’s Permanent homeless shelter. In addition, she helped to add millions of dollars to the Affordable Housing fund during her time on the Common Council; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Conklin worked closely with staff, committees and the public on major transportation policy initiatives including Bus Rapid Transit, Transit Network Redesign, Vision Zero, Transportation Demand Management Program, Transit Oriented Development, Safe Streets Madison, and Complete Green Streets; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Conklin, in close collaboration with City of Madison staff, has led a robust and inclusive community engagement process to develop the Sauk Creek Corridor Plan. The City has invested nearly 3,000 hours of staff time (a total of $318,800 - comprised of $162,800 in consultant services and $156,000 in staff payroll), making this one of the most comprehensive planning efforts undertaken in recent years by the City of Madison and the Common Council; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Conklin and city staff have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to transparency and public involvement, hosting six public information meetings, three open houses, and seven media interviews, while distributing over 29,000 postcards to ensure widespread community awareness and participation and, based on community input during the approval process, Alder Conklin amended the resolution to include, “WHEREAS, the City will minimize rip-rap bank stabilization and use more environmentally sensitive nature-based solutions where feasible during the design phase.”; and,
WHEREAS, the resulting Sauk Creek Corridor Plan will serve as a strategic framework guiding future planning, design and construction phases of the greenway. Each phase of construction will include its own dedicated public engagement process to incorporate community input on detailed design elements, continuing the City’s commitment to inclusive and responsive planning; and,
WHEREAS, across all agencies, Alder Conklin maintained productive, collaborative and respectful relationships with all city staff; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Conklin, through her hard work and dedication to her alder duties, has faithfully and with honor served her constituents and the City of Madison;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Common Council commend and thank Alder Nikki Conklin for her dedicated service to her constituents in District 9 and the City of Madison.